where does the time go?

Although we have a lighter lecture load this year, I am feeling the pinch of time. Much time has been spent in the library, very few morning teas have been attended and the late nights have begun.
I'm grateful for the time set aside in our program for chapel. Although I struggle with alertness during the mornings, they have been grounding me well over the past 2 weeks.

I fear I am fighting off this cold bug which is going round college.

Week 2 begins

I had my first meeting with BSR re the project. It went well, and I am feeling renewed and encouraged. We talked ideas, goals and methodology. Some tasks have been set to be done in the next 2 weeks, when we meet again.

Meanwhile, NT4 is a great joy to my soul.

Term 1, Week 1

Is over.

I can't decide on an Issues in Theology topic.

Nor can I work out a Church History essay question.
Although one option was to write about the influence of Australian evangelicals on firstwave feminism.

--realisation that summer is over

project update

The list is out. Next to my name it says:

Topic: Towards a Pauline Ethic of Contentment, with special reference to Singleness.

Supervisor: BSR

--
This weekend's task: a word study on contentment/self-sufficiency in the Pauline Epistles.

effectual disparity

Why are single people treated as second class citizens?

I live within 15 minutes of campus. For any married student, this is considered as living within residence. But for me, it is not. (This is just one example of many that I am using to illustrate)

To quote section 5.6 of the handbook (page 72, 2007):
"All single student are expected to reside in College (singles quarters) for the duration of their course."

Later in section 5.6 it says:
"Married students may apply to live in houses on College campuses [...] A minimum of two years residence is normally expected of married students"


Why are there different regulations for married students and single students?

Although I have heard some positive sermons on singleness, church culture does not reflect a positive view.

And how? How is our church culture going to change when our ministers are being trained in an institution that doesn't respect singleness? As people are being trained, there is a subverted message of singleness being taught. No wonder there is an underlying message being taught in church culture - that is, you are not complete until you are married.

Which makes me wonder where this perception has come from. The idea that you are somehow deficient if you are single.

Two thoughts:

1. It has arisen out of the Reformation
   One of the many positive things that the Reformers did was to endorse the goodness of marriage. Once again, marriage could be seen as a valid choice. You no longer need to live a monastic life in order to serve God as had been previously taught.
   Reactionary theology has swung this position to the extreme. No longer is singleness viewed as a positive thing. Our church culture has elevated marriage. So much so that I think it is in danger of becoming idolatrous.
   I don't want to elevate singleness above marriage, like in the days before the Reformation. But I also don't think that marriage should be elevated above singleness.
   Which brings me to my second thought about why our church culture thinks of singles as deficient....
   
   
   
2. SEX
   We live in a non-Christian world which says that sex is where it is at. Having sex and being sexy. All part of the world in which we live in.
   The non-Christian world doesn't understand sexual celibacy. When everything in their world tells them that life is about having sex, to have someone refrain from sex outside marriage is baffling.
   It is baffling because society equates having sex with being an adult. Adults choose when and who to have sex with. If that choice is taken away it is rape - a most heinous crime.
   
   It is all about choice. Once you can choose to have sex you are considered an adult. So, a single, mid-thirties, Christian is viewed as somehow not being as 'adult' as their married friends the same age. It is as though the ability to have sex with someone is what completes you.
   
   

Having sex doesn't complete you. Having a marriage partner doesn't complete you or make you superior to someone who is single. It is easy to look and say "I can see why that person is still single" or "I don't understand why that person hasn't been snatched up yet." It is not about what we do. It is not about whether this person is able to find a partner and that person isn't. God is sovereign. If you are married - God is the one who brought your partner into your life. If you are single - God is the one who is in control.

When will we as a church community have a culture that reflects our biblical teaching on the goodness of singleness? When will we as a college community realise that singles are adult in every way and begin treating them that way?

It is Christ who completes you - not sex, nor a marriage partner, nor work, nor children.

Was Jesus deficient because he was single?


(end rant)

project thoughts

1. Towards an ethic of contentment with specific application to singleness.

2. Towards a Pauline Ethic of Contentment with special reference to singleness.

choices II

I've signed off my summer work and enrolled in my subjects for 2007.

Electives decided on:
Christology
Old Testament 4 (English)
Project
Social Ethics (Audit)
Hebrew 2 & 3 (Audit)

official word

Just got a call from the academic dean - the official word is that my application to do a project has been accepted. On the proviso of a critical review at mid-year.

That works well for me. I work better under pressure.

Heading over to his office now to get all the details.

choices

(all on the positive assumption that I will be doing a project this year - I really don't think about the other options!!)

Option 1
Semester 1 -
Core - Church History 4, Congregational Ministry 4, New Testament 4, Issues in Theology
Electives - Social Ethics, Christology, Project
Semester 2 -
Core - New Testament 4, Issues in Theology
Electives - Project

Option 2
Semester 1 -
Core - Church History 4, Congregational Ministry 4, New Testament 4, Issues in Theology
Electives - Christology (Audit Social Ethics)
Semester 2 -
Core - New Testament 4, Issues in Theology
Electives - Apologetics or Old Testament 4

--
The electives I had leaned toward were Social Ethics and Christology as these are my strengths. So would prefer option 1. I just don't think that it is the wisest thing to do as it means a ridiculous amount of essays and exams in first semester.

Oh - and I will be studying Hebrew 2 this year.

2 days away

College rego is only 2 days away and I still haven't decided what subjects to study this year!!

So many options.

Do I have a manic first semester and a nice second? or, do I try and have a balanced year?

Do I do a Doyle subject or run as far from them as possible?

i feel no hope re approval of a project.

talks, project and dating

talks are written.
outlines are sent.
only minor tweaking to be done over next couple of days.

application for project is in.
board meets on monday to decide.

date went well.

i have been cranky and frustrated all day. the words aren't coming out the way i want them to for these talks that I am preparing.

i really must snap out of it and get ready for tonight's fun and games.

maybe it isn't meant to be

2 days into Hebrew 2 Summer School, and I have just been informed that college no longer allows people to audit subjects that aren't in their academic year. If I want to go to Hebrew 2 classes then I must enroll in the subject and sit the exams.

I'd be quite happy to enroll in the subject and sit the exams. If only they weren't scheduled at the same time as my core 4th year subjects.

What I'd really like is to be able to attend the next few days of Summer School and go to what classes as I can during term time.

But it seems that I will go to the library tomorrow and do other work.

missing fish

somewhere in the blogger upgrade my pet fish has gone AWOL

i can't even manage to keep a java fish alive!

the nomad returns

After not having slept in the same location for more than 4 nights in a row since Nov 24th, tonight sees the end of my nomadic season. I am back at home in my little apartment, unpacking and tidying for the arrival of my bed tomorrow.

I went to my pigeon hole today and collected my 4th transcript for 2006, and thus collecting my final Hebrew result. I called Mamma and Pappa Swan to thank them for their hard work in tutoring me over the past year. I was so good to speak to them - I miss them. My final result was good. However, my overall average is still not high enough to do a project, so an application has been drafted and will be submitted this week. NJ and APP are supporting my application, so I can't really see it being a problem. And besides, God is in control!

I am kinda looking forward to college going back. The idea of staying in one place longer than a week. But I also am dreading going back. Back to study, daily classes. But I do miss my friends....

Now if only I could remember what time hebrew summer school started on monday....
or where the piece of paper is that would tell me everything i need to know about rego, summer school, etc....

live from the mountains

I am having a great time in the mountains. Stinking hot one day, rain, freezing, humid and fog the next!

I am leading a great bunch of girls. We went out for ice cream this arvo and enjoyed the delights of the weather changes. We sat down at a picnic table and almost immediately they started firing questions at me. Our strand group time doesn't leave much time for divergent conversations what with trying to cover the material.
Thankfully we have free time for them to ask as many theological questions as they like. This arvo it was predestination and women preaching.
Tonight at dinner it was all about Catholicism and the place of tradition in the life of faith.

My brain is hurting, but re-energised. I have realised again this week that one of the things that I love is spending time with young people discussing theology with them, and how God's word shapes their lives.

Who knows what questions tomorrow will bring.

the end

So after not sitting my final Hebrew exam last year, I got to do it this morning.

Now this may be saying something about my current state of mind, but it was fun.

I look forward to Hebrew summer school starting in a few weeks.

But for now, I pack and leave for KYLC.

alpha and omega

or perhaps I should say:
aleph and taw

beginnings and endings

Tonight I begin a new student minister position.
Tomorrow I will be examined and will finish my year of studying hebrew.

seasons

like moving house
a friend's engagement
holidays
summer time

Over the past few weeks I have once again noticed the seasons. Things change.

My nomadic lifestyle has almost come to a halt. After spending 27 of the 31 days in December away from home, I am looking forward to getting settled. I have moved house, and hope to post some pics of it soon (or at least the view). Until then, I leave you with pictures from some of my holiday travels. Swimming in Gloucester river, sunset on the farm, and the fireworks on NYE.

one way to downsize....

is to move every 12 months!

in other thoughts:
I have been thinking more about the project I would like to do next year. For the last 6 months or so, I was set on "towards an ethic of contentment with specific application to singleness". Or some other ethics based project.
But my New Testament Theology mark was quite good in my recent exams, which has been prompting a few other thoughts.

I have been throwing around the idea of looking at a Pauline theology of singleness or such.

Any suggestions out there as to what I could muse on?

transcripts and averages

Many of you will be aware that I have been placing just a little pressure on myself regarding my end of year results.
After discovering that I had passed all my subjects, my next all important question was "what is my average?"
Hence begins the story of 3 academic transcripts for 2006 and 3 different averages.

Academic Transcript 1 - my average was 0.07 lower than last year. Not particularly fab, but once I had gotten over the annoyance, I realised that I was not really in any worse a position than last year. And considering that I had picked up Hebrew 1A this year, I think that it was a pretty good effort.

Academic Transcript 2 - I got an email from the registrar to the effect that there had been some mix up with Hebrew 1A results and we would get a new transcript. This was not particularly a big deal for me as I haven't sat the Hebrew final exam yet (Jan 22nd). So I didn't think that it would affect my average. Especially as Hebrew was an extra from my 3rd year subjects. But I got the new transcript in my pigeon hole today which indicated that my average had dropped another 3 marks.
But that is ok. I kinda figured that as long as I got 75% or above for the final exam, then my average should jump 5 marks or so. (I just wonder if 75% is wishful thinking)

Academic Transcript 3 - Just a few short hours ago, I got another email from the registrar to the effect that there had been another error with the calculation of Hebrew 1A results and that the overall averages were lower than what they should have been. I await this new transcript, and wonder if it will affect my average at all seeing as my mark for Hebrew sits on around 26% until I do the 70% exam.

We shall wait and see.

In other news, the packing is going ok. I have been kept busy and wonder where time vanishes.

progress

I should also note that exam results came in while I was away on sail camp.

I passed everything.

holidays, camps, and packing

I left for holidays. Heading north, I met up with some crew from college at Budgiewoi.
When that fun was over, I headed south for a family holiday with the Ould's and Tweety.
I stopped home for a night on my way back north for a week of sailing camp.

I'm back home now - for the moment. Mum is on her way over to help me start packing for the move.
So much mess. Where to start? And what shall I get Mum to do once she arrives?

Camp was fab. I got to see Max and his tractor again. He is an amazing man who is serving the Lord at the camp site. A huge encouragement to me during my time away.
I spent the week driving power boats and telling kids about the good news of Jesus. I was thankful that there were no major boating incidents, and for the opportunity to join in on discussion groups. It was a great reminder as to why I am at college, and the fact that I love hanging out with young people sharing the news of the gospel with them.

Mum's going to be here any moment.

My nomadic lifestyle continues on Tuesday.

I forgot to update you on the doctrine exam challenge.

I managed to slip the following into the exam:
It's all about Jesus
Totentanz

a brief return

After a few short, but relaxing days on the central coast, I am back in Sydney for the day before I head away tomorrow morning.

Our days were filled with talking, laying on the beach, painting (I took my paints and canvases up), going for morning walks, shopping and just enjoying people's company.

Hopefully I'll get some pics from JT or Kel when they get around to doing all that needs to be done with digi camera etc.

I'm off to see the wizard,


the wonderful wizard of OZ.





I'll be back in a while (but don't hold your breath)

much ado about nothing

Once upon a time I sat in room C.
I sat, and dreamed, and stared at my coke zero pyramid.
I dreamed of long hot days, of resting, swimming, playing and no exams.
I wait.
The days are coming when the sleepless shall sleep, when the weary will rest, and the birds will fly.

it's over

i didn't like today's exam

nothing else to say

one more sleep.....

actually, i don't know if sleep is the right word.
i'm back at home now.
trying to cool down in this hot weather.
the study room wasn't an option tonight.
hoekema and bloesch are my buddies for the night.
their knowledge will be transferred into my brain by morning.

--
one more sleep til....
exam of doom
summer holidays begin
my birthday
i start thinking about the hebrew exam i have to sit in jan
--

breathe in
breathe out
breathe in
breathe out

--
i am feeling a tad more confident about tomorrow's exam
i've been working on question diagnosis with badders
i went to mamma swans and we talked doctrine
i still am not quite grasping the connection between eschatology and ecclesiology (other than they are both about Jesus - yes, its all about Jesus)

exams: 5 down, 1 to go.....

well, whether i am a greek geek remains to be told.

i was slightly annoyed that i didn't get all the translation out (missed a couple of words here and there - really should have done more vocab throughout the year), so that could affect the outcome a little.
i managed to write a fairly substantial paper and only mention a couple of greek phrases. last year my problem was that i had too much greek and not enough theology and flow, this year i think it will be the opposite.
i wrote a paper on Romans 5:12-21, and Luke 1:5-17. there was a third question (a comparison question partway between theology and exegetical paper) which i didn't leave enough time for, so i think it was more a stream of thoughts rather than an essay.


--
5 down, 1 to go
2 days til doctrine exam of doom......

breathe the greek, hear the greek, sleep the greek, be one with the greek

greek is my friend

now say it together: greek is my friend

i can't hear you....

GREEK IS MY FRIEND!

exams: 4 down, 2 to go...

Today was New Testament theology.
There wasn't a fab selection of questions.
I'm sure glad that it is over.

Questions: 4, 8 and 11....

• What contribution does Paul's teaching on the Spirit in Romans 8 make to the whole letter?
• How tightly should the relationship between Luke and Acts be conceived?
• What is the essence of the 'New Perspective' understanding of Pauline theology?

Next up, NT exegesis tomorrow morning.
For those that are wondering: I never managed to slip anything interesting into todays exam. Much too pushed for time, and too desperate struggling to get a coherant answer out (which I am not sure I managed!)

--
3 days til doctrine exam of doom......

sleeplessness

6:30pm - church
9:00pm - study room
11:00pm - home
11:15pm - sleep
12:30am - awake, new testament thoughts running through mind
12:45am - sleep
1:30am - awake, very bizarre dream
2:00am - sleep
4:00am - awake, nightmare
5:45am - mum phoned, expecting to wake me up

now i will go for a walk

--
in 6 hours i will only have 2 exams left

--
edit: 6:15am
breathe in
breathe out
breathe in
breathe out

sunburn and study

yesterday saw me spend most of the day in a local cafe studying. my shoulders copped quite a bit of sun. thankfully most of the red has gone down this morning.
i had a little teeny panic yesterday about GPA's and next year, so its back to the study room for me this morning.

i love what i'm studying

--
5 days

3 down, 3 to go

to those of you who must know the answer....

yes, i did manage to get 'jam and scones' into one of my ethics essays in the exam.

i haven't been online a great deal. there has been a distraction, which i am trying to avoid!

--
any suggestions for something to get into the new testament exam?

3 down, 3 to go

to those of you who must know the answer....

yes, i did manage to get 'jam and scones' into one of my ethics essays in the exam.

i haven't been online a great deal. there has been a distraction, which i am trying to avoid!

--
any suggestions for something to get into the new testament exam?

jam, scones and ethics

it looks as though jam and scones wins the poll.
ethics is up this morning. in just 6 and a bit hours, i will be halfway through my exams!

my brain is already stewing away some possibilities to weave jam and scones into my exam.
somebody said to me yesterday: 'don't you find exams hard enough without setting yourself extra challenges?'
or course i find exams hard, i'm not exactly an A-grade student. but i do like setting some sort of goal (other than passing) in order to make them more enjoyable.

i had lunch with doylie yesterday. his challenge to me for the doctrine exam (of doom) next thursday is to get totentanz into one of my essays.

bring it on!

or make another suggestion in the comments...

highlight....

i did manage to get 'hokey pokey' into one of my answers today about Ezekiel!!

exam 2 of 6....

wow, it was a shocker. the one exam that i wasn't stressed about as it was my best mark last year, and i really enjoyed sitting the exam last year.
blech
i ended up writing some papers on passages i hadn't even studied. and what with the way that the modules were split up, i wrote answers to questions i hadn't even gone to the lectures for! (i did that as the passages i had studied weren't in there, or were shockers!)

now to get to ethics....

--
2 exams down, 4 to go....
8 days til doctrine exam of doom

OT exegesis is on today.
Not feeling overly prepared.
Not feeling overly stressed.

--
9 days til doctrine exam of doom.
9 days til my birthday :)

1/6

I'm glad that one is over!

Out of a possible 12 questions, 3 were on the paper and one unseen question.
Here's what I wrote on:

1. Evaluate the textual and theological significance of the Septuagint version of Jeremiah. (Unlikely as it may seem, this was the one that I knew the most about!)
   
2. Evaluate the significance of the poetic for of the Psalms for their theological message. Illustrate your answer with examples.
3. Critically and theologically evaluate Stephen Cook's approach to apocalypticism and the literature associated with it. (Not really sure whether I managed a comprehensive answer on this one).
4. Unseen Question - In what ways, if any, does the standpoint of the writer (sixth or second century B.C.) affect the theological interpretation of the book of Daniel?
   (I think I managed to string together a coherant answer for this one)

I didn't manage to slip any interesting phrases into this exam paper. Bummer. I think this is only the second time that has happened in any of my exams whilst at college. I'll have to try harder tomorrow. Although, I did write about Jesus whilst talking about apocalyptic literature!

Now it is time to head out to a coffee shop to sit outside sipping coffee reading over my notes for tomorrow's exam.

7 of 7

very productive...

OT theology up in the morning. Feeling prepared as I'm ever going to be.
Still much to be done for OT exegesis on Tuesday.


now to sleep some restful dreams!

some days are diamonds.....

stuvac day 6 of 7

mildy productive

achieved:
4 of 12 OT theology questions under control
2 hour afternoon snooze
washing

and there are still more hours in the day!!

stuvac - day 5 of 7

quite productive

highlights:
going home to see my family for Dad's birthday dinner
Uncle K and Aunty J were there, visiting from QLD
finding a tape of the sound track to Top Gun in my car

lowlights:
Uncle P is quite ill

I have quite a large extended family. Both my Mum and Dad come from large families.
My Mum is the youngest with 4 older brothers. Uncle's K, P, B & D. Uncle's K and D live in QLD, and there is quite a large age spread between siblings. Hence my Mum was an Aunty at age 8, and some of my cousins on that side of the family have kids my age.
My Uncle B died from cancer mid last year. My Uncle P has also been diagnosed with cancer. 2 weeks ago, after much treatment, he had a major operation to remove some of his organs. I went to see him last week and he was doing ok. In the last few days he has taken a turn for the worse.
Things aren't looking all that good.

4 of 7

very productive!
I think I managed to condense the entire ethics course (or at least the modules I am studying for the exam) onto 2 double sided A4 pieces of paper.
And then I explained them to Tweety. I'm feeling quite good about Ethics now. For me it all lay in the "can I explain it to someone else?". If I can't, then I don't know it. BUT, I could!! woot
this esp holds joy for me as I'd like to take an ethics direction for next year's project.

Went back to greek geeking this arvo/tonight. I really need to stop looking at that and focus on OT for next monday and tuesday exams!

tomorrow: some meetings; greek geeking with RJG; dinner with family (I haven't seen them in a month or so and it is Dad's birthday dinner tomorrow night); wake up call from mum at 6am (erk); and hopefully some OT exegesis and theology.
but probably not in that order

14 days til my birthday
14 days til exams finish

3 of 7

6:15am wake up call from mum

much new testament study done
a little old testament study done
not enough ethics or doctrine

quite a productive day
not enough hours, much to be accomplished

dinner was lovely
washing in the machine
clean sheet night

tomorrow i will be even more productive
tomorrow i might decide on a job for next year
tomorrow i will

2 of 7

Not as productive as day one. I came to the realisation that everything is eschatological. (I fear hyperbole will be used a great deal in the coming weeks)

Tomorrow, I will be more productive. Tomorrow, I will get back on target. Tomorrow, Jesus might return. Tomorrow, I will prepare for the Old Testament theology paper. Tomorrow, I will finish my notes on doctrine of eschatology. Tomorrow, I will have dinner with Trinity at 'that other college'. Soon, I will see my parents. Soon, it will be summer. Soon, very soon, I will decide on a job for next year!

and who'da thought, the Ethics I was studying tonight - it was eschatological!

But right now, I shall see what bizarre dreams await me!

bizarre dreaming

I have been having some bizarre dreams of late.

A couple of weeks ago, I dreamt that I was in prison. For something I did not do! (of course everyone says that). For some strange reason there were kids in the prison, who also had not done anything wrong. Using an apple corer, I broke us out. I didn't know where to take them, so I took them to my parents house in suburbia. I had all the kids safe. Then the police arrived to catch me. But it wasn't the police, it was 2 of the women's chaplains from the women's section of college.
But they couldn't catch me!
I kept jumping from balcony to the roof and back on my parents house. I even tried to jump the fence next door, but our neighbours huge Rotweiler, Zack, wouldn't let me get in.
I woke up relieved that the women's chaplains couldn't catch me, but confused as to why they were trying.

Then 2 nights ago I again dreamt that I was in prison. But then I realised it wasn't prison, it was a boarding school. I was the oldest child in my family, and had heaps of younger brothers. We were all at the same school. Our youngest brother was having a heart transplant and was dying, but the people who ran the boarding school wouldn't let us go and see him.
I woke up with tears streaming down my face because I was so devastated that they wouldn't let us go and see our dying brother.

--
Back in reality, my youngest brother was back in hospital yesterday for a dislocated shoulder. I'm glad it wasn't open heart surgery!!

I'm sure there is much that you could read into these dreams. Anyone want to give interpretation a shot?

that's what its all about

First year my exam motto was:
"Its allright, Its OK, Jesus loves me anyway!"

Early in second year I started saying:
"Its all about Jesus."

Third year, and I'm still saying:
"Its all about Jesus."


Jesus - the reason I'm at college.

Yes, its all about Jesus.
He died and rose again that I might be forgiven - how awesome is that?!

the sweet melody of procrastination

An amusing post from Lady Design...

Following her tips, here are the results of my Procrastination Technique #342.

Original Post:
Today I moved into Room C. I have set up camp, and for the next 3 weeks will live there. I fear it is past the time of day for a nanna nap, yet my body strongly suggests that I must do so. Instead I will wander back to Room C and continue my studies for the upcoming exams of doom!

After steps 3-7:
Today I am gone in installed in hall C that for tents, and for which 3 next weeks he will live there. I fear that he place has over, which maintains peels of nanna, however my body suggests strongly that I must make in such a way. On the other hand I will curve again at hall C and become i continue my studies for i imminent exams the fate through-cross!

And finally after steps 3-7 in reverse:
Today I attacked within gone in to hall the c that for stretches here and what 3 following weeks lives he. I fear that it has puts more rueber, the river basins nanna maintain, however my body proposes strongly that it must form in such a way. Of other part I still encircle over hall the c and place far away to become my studies for the examinations that threaten the Durchkreuz destiny directly!


--
I really should get back into it
:p

Seifenoper, Kino und Ängste

einer meiner Freunde beschrieb mein Leben wie das heute:
Leben ist eine Seifenoper. Gerade als Sie denken, dass das zu Ende ist, ein anderes Drama kommt mit.

Ich hoffe, dass nächstes Jahr ein wenig glatter sein wird.

Und ich erinnere mich an Römer 5:3-4
Nicht allein aber das, sondern wir rühmen uns auch in den Bedrängnissen, da wir wissen, daß die Bedrängnis Ausharren bewirkt, das Ausharren aber Bewährung, die Bewährung aber Hoffnung.

--
auf einer verschiedenen Plattform.
Heute Abend beobachtete ich Kinder von Männern.
Ich genoß es ein großer Betrag. Ich setzte fort, überall an die verschiedenen Arten zu denken, wie dieser Film verwendet werden konnte, um Dinge im Jugendministerium zu illustrieren.

--
es ist eine Weile da ich blogged auf Deutsch gewesen. Ich fürchte, dass sich mein Gebrauch verschlechtert.

the joy of creating

see some of my most recent artwork...
here
and
here (the one on the left)

I love painting - especially for a person, with them in mind.

prayer, provision and repentance

Friday College had a morning of prayer. It was great to spend a few solid hours praying. I also found it hugely encouraging praying for all the exiting students.

God's grace and provision continues to blow me away. I have been waking up quite early of late. I think it is because the sun has been getting up earlier and earlier. I'm looking forward to daylight savings starting tomorrow. But this past week, as I have been waking up between 5 or 6am, I stretch out, look at the ceiling and pray and give thanks to God. Try it sometime, it has been awesome.

--
I got to thinking over the last week about the pain and grief that comes with death. I then thought about the death of Christ. How painful that must have been for God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit in their perfect perichoretic relationship when Christ died. It has reminded me of enormity of what occurred when God sent his only Son to die for us.

I again come before my maker and repent, give thanks and turn my life to him for molding.

There is no sunshine without the sun and there is no sun in a cave but you will find darkness, cold and wet, nothing at all is like brew, you, fun, tea, cocktails and budgies go to the zoo to watch the tigers come from Africa does not like to watch us play violins and volitional moods go well together is the opposite of separate, but it does start with the same letter as today is gonna change the world for there is no tomorrow, there is nothing but sunshine on my fingers and toes, bending and stretching my back to front and topsy turvey mr men and women are swimming in the sea of love and happiness is good for the soul, spirit, life, just do it for the love of money doesn't rule my world pollution does not want me to go home tonight I have a date with some seaweed is good for your skin not nose piercings are hot and spicey food to cook tomorrowor else nothing will go away on holidays are coming soon but exams are sooner.

so they threatened

The waves threatened to overwhelm this week.

The week started on Monday morning with a tute on abortion and ended with a guest lecturer on the same topic.

It saddens my soul to tears.

I hope and pray that I will always be devastated by this topic, and never calloused or even apathetic.

--
It has AGAIN made me realise the importance of what we teach our young people. We teach about sexual purity, but often we forget to teach about the importance of life (a Christian perspective on abortion/euthanasia etc).

itty-bitty fishing boat

Today we looked at Christology in Luke-Acts. I continue to be amazed at Luke's rich and vibrant description of our Lord and Savior. There is just so much to be learnt. Sometimes I feel like a small fishing boat let out to sea in a storm. I'm being bombarded with information day after day, night after night. No chance to recover from the last wave when the next one hits!

I want to learn it all, but realise all too quickly that this is an imposibility. I know that college is only just a small part in what I hope is a lifetime of learning and loving God more.

And now it is time to turn back into those waves...

is it a 'gospel' issue?

Picking up on David's comment in the previous post, I thought I would ask the question: Is it a gospel issue when women preach/teach/lead biblestudy in a mixed setting?

By this I mean, is a woman sinning when she teaches a man?

I have heard it taught that it is a sin. That in fact it is sin in the same way that Eve sinned in the garden, ursurping the God-given order of creation.
I feel the tension. The jury is out in my decision making, but surely if it is a sin, then it is a gospel issue.

And what do we mean by gospel issue anyway?!

And if it is a gospel issue, how does that work itself out? Can a woman lead a service, read the bible in church or even pray in church? what about leading singing in church, is that teaching? and what about youth ministry?

pragmatics or theology

So the gender debate is being tabled at Synod. There are many facets to how this pans out. This post is not aimed at taking a position regarding the ordination of women to the priesthood, but at what we do with our position on certain aspects of the gender debate.

We need to let our theology dictate our ministry not pragmatics. This is all areas of ministry, but here for this post I am thinking about women teaching to men and women.

If a biblical pattern of male headship is being held to and women are not to teach in a mixed setting then this needs to be held across the board. Here in Sydney we are so blessed to have an abundance of well theologically trained people to teach in our churches. Elsewhere it is not the case. Yet why do our churches which take a stand against women preaching in mixed settings so willingly support and allow women to go overseas and teach in mixed settings?
Some people say that this is because there is a great need, and if there are no men to teach and there are women willing and able to go then they should. But I question what this says about our doctrine of humanity.
Are the men in those places somehow less 'manly' and it is acceptable for them to sit under a woman's teaching? What are we really saying when we allow women to preach 'over there' and not here?

We cannot allow pragmatics to rule our theology. If we take a stand against women preaching to a mixed setting here in the abundance of Sydney, then we have to take the line that they cannot teach to mixed settings overseas as well.

sporadic

My blogging has been a little sporadic of late.

There are so many thoughts swirling around in my head that I haven't had time to sit down and write (also dodgy internet and PC giving me grief). I do my best thinking when I am moving about. So one good thing to come out of all this thinking as that the house is clean and my bedroom is tidy. I even managed to rearrange and there may be room for another bookcase in my bedroom.
Now to find one within the budget!

I've been reading about abortion for the ethics tute today. I hope to post some thoughts on it after the tute.

Current thoughts consuming brain waves:

• women's ordination to the priesthood (it is being tabled at Synod over the next 2 weeks)
• women's ordination to the deaconate (is there a relationship between this and the above)
• 1 Tim 2
• contentment and blessings
• bioethics

the same old storage story

4 bookcases full of books. Crates of them overflowing under the bed, beside the desk and out of the wardrobe. Piles in the hallway, hidden under couches, above the fridge, under the table.

I have evacuated all non-essential literature to my parents house (and they thought that they had got rid of me).

Surely there are more spots I can find in my bedroom to put them!

the power of blog...

an interesting/amusing article on why you shouldn't blog - here.

What do you think?

artiste

Today brings about a new era in my life. I have my first commissioned piece of artwork (paid that is)!!!! Naughty has asked me to do something for her room. OK, so it isn't the first painting that someone has asked me to do for them, but it is the first time someone has given me cash up front to cover materials.
Perhaps it is time to be rethinking college....
--ok, so perhaps going from financially struggling theological student to financially struggling painter may not be the way to go.

But someone suggested I could sell them on ebay. Perhaps I should put some thought into that to help fund my final year and a bit of college....

God speaks - He is not silent.

You might was to read Psalm 19 first.

Have you ever hugged a tree and expected it to talk to you? I often talk to my plants and pets, but I never expect them to talk back. I read these verses and wonder what an earth is going on.
How can creation talk? How do the trees and rivers speak up? What are these verses claiming?

The Heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
It’s a bold opening. Creation cries out, declaring praises to its creator.
Creation has a voice. It declares the glory of God. It displays knowledge. There is no language that it does not speak, and its voice goes out to the end of the earth. God has spoken, he isn’t silent.

Heavens, skies, speech and voice. What do they remind you of? Think about it.
Where do they take you?

God created the heavens and earth. God spoke. It was with his word that the heavens and earth were created. David is not just reflecting on the expanse of heaven.
He is not merely sitting under the stars and looking at them for that moment alone. He has an understanding that goes all the way back to the creation of the universe. David is not saying anything new. This is no new and strange concept. God has always spoken.
Look at verse1. Look at the balance. It flows off your tongue. The Heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands. It has the effect of us seeing how the glory of God is the work of his hands.

Check it out. The story that the heavens is telling is not just contained to daylight hours, it is day and night.
Day AND night. This heavenly message speaks twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, for all eternity.
The nightly knowledge is the same is the daytime speech. Day and night. Morning and evening.

The work of creation may be finished, but it’s message continues.
God speaks, he is not silent.

David doesn’t mean that creation speaks in English, Aramaic, Hebrew, or even Greek. Even so, it is a profound communication. Just look at verse 3.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

If you are a tree hugger you don’t expect the tree to talk back to you. But just because we don’t hear it, doesn’t mean that it is mute. There is no part of humanity, no matter what language, that has escaped the proclamation, what the heavens declare about their creator.
This proclamation of God is so profound that humans are held responsible for not listening. Romans 1:18-23. Paul writes that no human anywhere has any excuse for failing to recognize God. Because of the testimony of creation.

In creation, God speaks. He is not silent.
His speech goes out to the ends of the earth. Verse 3 picks this up, and you can’t miss it in verse 4! Although the speech, words and voice of the heavens may be inaudible to human ears, they still have a voice.

So how does creation speak? How does creation proclaim?
David goes on in the next couple of verses to give an example.
He has described the big picture of what creation is doing. And here the psalm focuses in. From the general to the specific.

We see the picture of the sun living in a tent pitched in the heavens by God.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.


I went to a friends wedding recently. And as I was sitting there, the bridegroom came out the door from the side of the church to wait up the front. You couldn’t wipe the smile of his face. He was beaming with joy. Today was his wedding day. I’m sure many of you will have witnessed the same thing.
Now culture is slightly different these days, for we normally see the bride arrive and go the bridegroom. It’s the opposite here. The bridegroom is the one goes to the bride.

The triumphant sweep of the sun through the heavens displays the glory of God like a bridegroom. He is dressed in his finest and beaming with joy at the occasion. He leaves his tent, the place of preparation. The public nature of this occasion would involve everyone. EVERYONE.
NO ONE could miss this event.
And you know what it is talking about?

The revelation of God.

And to even take this one step further: if you were absent from the wedding it would show that you were either indifferent toward the family or had some type of badwill toward them.
God created the heavens and the sun. It’s through this that he making himself known to all, to everyone in joy and glory.
And the sun is not only described as a bridegroom, but also as a warrior, a champion. Someone who is fearless and stretching out to the end.
Through all this, God speaks, he is not silent.

David has the pointed reminder that the sun shines on all creation, on all humanity. We can’t live without sunlight. And there is nothing that can escape the watchful eye of the God who created the sun. The sun moves from one end of the heaven to the other. It warms and illuminates all that humanity does.
This is a subtle reminder. The word warm or heat actually has undertones of anger - the judgment of God. The sun is a constant scrutinizer and assessor of all human activity.
Even those activities that we think are hidden.

The glorious sun – which mirrors God’s glory – constantly arcs overhead so that none escape both the blessings and judgment implied by its heat. But we can’t stop there. We have this great proclamation of creation, but then again we haven’t responded to it.

HOWEVER, there is something even greater. And David writes of this in the next few verses.

Listen to what he says now:
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

I just love those words.
God has spoken. He isn't silent.

We see a whole bunch of words describing the character of the Torah, the Law of God. Each description also has a phrase revealing how the Torah impacts humanity.
It is not just about what the Torah is, but it describes what it does. Can you see the subtle difference? The difference between what David has said about creation?

The law of the LORD is perfect.
It's whole.
It's trustworthy, it's right, pure, certain and precious.

Perfect… reviving. It calls the faithful to repent and return.

Trustworthy… making wise. Like the warning signs on the freeway telling you to slow down, or even those signs you see on the harbor bridge exits saying ‘wrong way go back’, the Torah warns of dangerous and slippery conditions.

Right… giving joy. These precepts are not described as restrictive, but bring joy.

Radiant… giving light. Like the sun descibed earlier, it describes God’s command as pure light, lighting the way.

Pure… enduring forever. The pattern has changed. No longer a list of attributes, but it introduces the theme of human response which the Psalm goes on to fill out.

Ordinances… sure and altogether righteous. God doesn’t change his mind. He is not manipulative. God is trustworthy.
He is reliable, permanent and faithful. There are no one minute this, one minute that with the LORD. There is only a secure and permanent view of what ought to be. These standards are in and of themselves righteous.

Not only that, they are more precious than gold, pure gold. Sweeter than honeycomb.
Think about those words for a second. More precious than the purest of gold. Sweeter than the freshest of honey.

The creation may cry out. But the Torah actually achieves something. It achieves something which creation does not do. Look at those descriptions again.
The Torah revives.
Makes wise.
It gives joy and light.

And we can see how precious the Torah, and of course all Scripture is, in verse 11.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Scripture is so important because not only does it warn, but it guides.
God speaks, he is not silent.

Too often we think of the Scripture, and even more so the Torah, as being legalistic and purely restrictions of behavior. That it must be obeyed under pain of divine punishment.
This is an incorrect view. Psalm 19 declares the law not to be an onerous burden, but a source of wisdom, joy and light.
It is precious and pleasurable.
We need to incorporate this positive view of the law into our understanding of the Old Testament. Rather than it being a heavy burden, it was the guide to continued life and restoration of communion with the holy God.
Jesus himself accepts and upholds the goodness of the law when he says in Matthew 5:17 that he did not come to abolish the law or the prophets… but to fulfill them.

David’s spent time marveling at the revelation of God declared through the heavens and sun. And he’s rejoiced in the admonition and guidance of the Scriptures. He at last turns to the appropriate human response. “fear of the LORD”. Only on the understanding of the Scriptures comes this proper attitude.

David now moves to talk about himself. The I language makes this clear, and ever so personal. Then will I be blameless, words of my mouth, meditation of my heart, my Rock and my Redeemer.
People sometimes look at these verses and reckon that we can achieve a state of sinless perfection. That is not what the psalmist means in verse 13. Being right with God is not from keeping the Torah. It is not about what I do. It is about what God does.

We see this in verse 14. It provides a wonderful conclusion to the movement we have seen across the psalm. It is a plea for the way of submission.
The LORD is the David’s rock, redeemer and the one in who hope resides. The LORD is to be our rock, our redeemer, the one in whom our hope resides.

So I have to ask: what does it all mean for us?

How can I know God?
Creation declares the praises of God, but it is not enough to take someone outside and tell them to hug a tree in order to know God.
The sun, the work of creation all speak of the glory of God, yet this Psalm moved us to show how God speaks through Scripture. And of course, its Scripture that ultimately points to the revelation of Christ. Christ is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of his being.

God speaks, he is not silent. The heavens have declared his praises. And even more than that.
He has spoken and given guidance through the Torah, the Scriptures, and the fullness of his glorious revelation has come in Christ.

God in Christ, is revealed through the Scriptures. People can’t know God by hugging trees or looking at the heavens. People know God through the perfect, sure, right and pure words of God in Scripture. Pointing us to Christ.
If we want to point people to Christ we don’t turn to trees. And we don’t tell them to turn to the trees. We turn to the Bible. It is the Bible that revives the soul.

In our Youth groups, it’s not that games that convert.
It’s the Scriptures.
In our churches, it’s not the flashy powerpoint that revives the soul.
It’s God’s word.
In our one-two-ones, or our small groups, or anything else, we can’t point them to nature, to hugging trees and tell them to find God. It’s through the Bible that God in Christ is revealed.

Everything that we do MUST come from Scripture. Because ultimately that’s where God speaks.

completed

my sermon is finished for Chick's Chapel tomorrow morning which is a nice feeling. I had hoped to deliver it with no notes, but it isn't quite there yet.
I'm trying to explore different delivery modes. (part of the whole no notes thing) I will at least stick clear of the lecturn!

I'll post it up sometime tomorrow...

go figure

I came home tonight to find that someone had broken into our backyard (not that it would have taken much effort) and stolen my weather worn tarp that was covering my beat up washing machine that won't fit in our laundry. I figure they must have been pretty desperate as it had many holes in it. I do hope that it keeps them warm and dry. I just wish they hadn't almost broken the whole fence down while they were at it.

--
just tying the threads together for tuesday's sermon on Psalm 19. Almost there!

libraries

One of the great things about living on campus and studying at college is the library. Who'd of thought I would say that 2 years ago??
There are so many books I want to borrow, only 10 books allowed at a time, and so few hours in the week!
I started reading The rare jewel of Christian contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs this morning.

You never learned the mystery of contentment unless it may be said of you that, just as you are the most content man, so you are also the most unsatisfied man in the world.

godly desires - idolatry?

One of the things that has stemmed out of my wrestle with the topic of contentment is the place of desire.
Is it possible to be content whilst still desiring something? I want to say yes. But I also know that the tension is hard to hold. I'm sure it is possible to hold that tension and not allow desire to consume and become an idol. I just haven't quite figured that one out yet!


But for now, my thinking on contentment must stop, as I finish writing my assignment on confession for class tomorrow.

YOU

I have been thinking a fair bit lately about the tension between contentment and desire and the place of human responsibility.
MPJ is planning to write a book. He has a blog where he would love for you to interact with him on the topics that he is posting. An explanation of what it is all about can be found here.

He has been writing some posts on dreams which have continued to provoke my thoughts on the topic of contentment.
Dreams, What do we dream about....?, Frustration, Being there..., The dream of God and Dreaming with God.

Go visit here and have your say. After all, the book is entitled YOU.

field of tulips

I spent some time painting this weekend. Painting with Jedi Master on Saturday. Finger painting with Charis this morning. And painting on my own this arvo. I am satisfied with some of my completed works. One being a 3 panel piece for JT, and this field of tulips for Dave O.

Bedroom is almost tidy, clean sheets on bed - the thought of sleeping through the night. That is contentment!

contentment

the state of being contented; satisfied.
happiness with one's situation in life.
a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction.
to one’s heart’s content-to the full extent of one’s desires.

I think 1 Tim. 6:6 and 2 Cor. 9:8 are pretty clear about contentment as part of the Christian life.

But I am wrestling with what this looks like. Should the Christian be totally content with their life? What does that mean for our eschatology?

Are the above definitions missing something?

And I don't mean contentment as a dutiful acceptance of life just becuase things are the way that they are.

So many thoughts....

So many questions....

brain freeze, study and jobs...

After another remedial hebrew session with Athas, I felt as though my brain was squished. I'm starting to get slightly concerned about the upcoming final exam. It makes me question the foolishness at having picked this subject up. But then I remember the fun that I have when I feel as though I have decoded some translation.
(I call that fun - what has happened to me?!!)

Term 4 is well underway, and with only a few short weeks until the exams, I'm going to have to dig deep. I'm thankful for the public holiday next monday. I think I'm going to use it to get some study papers under my belt and to finalise my study program for the next 6 weeks.

I've started thinking about positions for next year. (I can't remember if I have mentioned that in previous posts). Although I was in discussions with some people about some full-time positions, I have decided to remain at college for next year. I'd really like to spend some more time thinking about contentment, and if I don't get approval to do a project on it then I will do my new testament issues paper on it. So unless there is a position that comes and bites me, which I just cannot walk away from, my plans are to remain and do 4th year.

Please pray for me as I seek a position.

More questions than answers...

Where is human responsibility? What is the place of human responsibility in dating?

Following on from my previous post, I have been wondering about the place of human responsibility.
My premise for contentment, and specifically contentment in singleness, is found in God’s sovereignty and God’s goodness.
But simply because God is in control, it doesn’t absolve human responsibility.
Imagine if we were to take the attitude of ‘Well, if God wants it to happen, then it will happen’ with evangelism. If this attitude is taken, then it is easy to sit back and not take part. So what does this mean for the dating scene?

I speak about contentment in singleness, marriage, financial matters, every area of your life. When people allow their desires to consume them, they not only become discontent, but they make those things their idols.
I am wrestling at the moment with the place of human responsibility in the dating scene. I am also wrestling with the place of discontentment in the life of the believer. What does it mean to be discontent? Is it ok to be discontent with sin in your life? What about being discontent with being in poverty?
But what does all this look like?

church visiting and dating

Last night I visited St Paul's Castle Hill. I really enjoyed it. They had a visiting preacher from the US, and the topic of the sermon was dating. Overall, I think he did a great job. Though I was left with many questions.
I approached him after the service and got his email addy. I'm looking forward to processing last night's data and then sending him an email with all my questions.

Many people say that you 'just know' when you have met the one.
So how do you know when it is the one? What is the X-factor?

It's up and running

I finally have put together a schedule and my Barth readings should now have a little more direction (ie - helping me for my exams).

music review

Here are some of my fav Christian CDs of the moment:



Mike Begbie's debut albumn, Promises. Available here.





Check out Garage Hymnal here.







For more info on Sovereign Grace Ministries and Music click here.

holidays

It is always cold, but each year I look forward to the first swim of the summer season. Today was the day. Although it isn't summer yet, the temps hit 30c on Friday.
Dad and I headed down to the beach this arvo to dive into the cold salt water. There were quite a few people down there. But not many in the water. We didn't last all that long either. The sun was tickling our skin, so we sat down and watched the water and talked about life, love and politics.

Tonight I headed back to an old stomping ground. I went to Nan0c's 30th birthday do. It was heaps of fun to catch up with people. I didn't stay too late as the essay nights of last week are haunting me.

So I sit here, laptop on my knees and think about stuff. Where will I be when I turn 30? What can I get Mum for her birthday? Should I get a cat next year? Or maybe a fish to replace Moe and Joe? Where should I work next year? Should I go to bed?

Psalm 19

I'm preaching on Ps 19 in Chick's Chapel in a couple of weeks.

I went to visit some friends tonight. When we read through this Psalm, one of them pointed out that I could talk for hours just on that one Psalm. Which is exactly how I'm feeling at this point. There is so much to say, and only a short 20-25 mins to say it in.

Why don't you have a read and tell me what you think?

--
Ps 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

doctrine essay in tatters

I spend 2 1/2 hours with MDB this arvo going through my doctrine essay. After giving him permission, he tore it to shreds. It was all very depressing. But at least I know how to improve. Apparently its not so much my thinking, but my writing skills.
blech

completion

3289 words on paper.
Done - finally!

1040 words to go.....

downhill slide

1500 down
1500 to go

--
ok, so its sounding a little less like a sermon since i added this sentence:

On deeper investigation, this connection is not an
anthropological-soteriological statement so much as a
Christological-cosmological distinction that Paul is highlighting.

hope... where are you?

it is in severe danger of sounding more like a sermon than an academic essay on Christian hope....

1200 words
1800 to go

deadlines come and deadlines go...

800 words
2200 to go

326 words written
2674 words to go

slowly, slowly

158 words
2842 to go

contentment and blessings

I heard it said that it is when you give your struggles over to God, then, and only then, he will bless you.
I’ve heard it said that when you learn to be content with who you are, when you learn to love yourself, then God will bless you with someone to love you.
I’ve read that the secret of contentment is when we distract ourselves from our worries, giving these things to God letting him deal with them, then God will bless us beyond our wildest imaginings.

This is not the case.
The above statements are dangerous. Yes, they may be said with good intentions, and people genuinely wanting to give you a piece of comfort. But all this does is lead to a works based faith and mentality. If I do this, then God will give me this. And even if we aren’t thinking it out loud, it becomes immersed into our sub-thinking. God doesn’t require that we attain a certain level of being before he blesses us. He gives all gifts - freely. Just like salvation, it is not something to be bought, earned or bribed. It is something given in God’s infinite mercy and grace.

Yes, we need to focus on God.
Yes, we need to give our concerns to him and not hold on to them.
Yes, we need to learn contentment with who we are as a child of God.
Yes, we need to learn contentment with all areas of our lives.
BUT
we cannot and must not affix the expectation of a blessing to these things.

/endrant

the countdown begins....

I interrupt your regular program to announce:

1. 73 words, 2927 to go.
2. 10 weeks til summer break.
3. 8 weeks til exams.
4. 40 hours til essay is due.

Ich habe eine Struktur für meinen Aufsatz!
YAY

Jetzt muss ich finden, dass dreitausend Wörter es ausfüllen

reconsiderations

Essay week always makes me reconsider whether I should continue studies. I would much rather give 10 sermons than write an essay. -- Its normally in hindsight that I can reflect and enjoy what I have learnt during an essay.

I picked a question on Christian hope. It looked nice enough on face value. Scratching the surface, I have realised that it is asking about the new perspective - arrrgghhhh
I will look back once this is handed in and realise that it is has been good!

But it still makes me ask the questions that I have asked many times before....
Should I really do 4th year?
If I do 4th year, should I do a project?

--
I would dealy love to finish up study at the end of this year. I feel that I have been a student for eons. I know that there is only slim chances that I will escape and not continue studies into next year, but it makes me wonder if I should pursue some of the options that have come my way in terms of fulltime work for next year.

--
Ethics essays came back. This was the one that I frantically emailed in from holidays. I am quite happy with it all things considering. AJC marked it. I found his comments helpful. Escpecially his comment on the section about english expression. He said that there were only some minor glitches, but I should try to make sure that each sentence includes a verb!!!
I can laugh about this becuase it is so typical of me.

encouraging moments

Last year, my eldest brother (the one pictured here) became a Christian. To see the way in which God transformed a stubborn 30year old has been amazing.
He has never held a job for more than a couple of months, yet now he is in his second semester at uni. As I sit here and look over at his study space, I am encouraged to see that plastered around his computer are prayer points. He has changed from being an inward looking man, to being a man who prays that he would be outward. He has changed from being a man who would rarely talk to anyone, let alone talk about God, to being a man who seeks to have conversations wtih you and wants more than anything to talk about God.

I am encouraged. I hope this encourages you. For he was someone who was completely anti-God for the first 29.5 years of his life!!! Take hope. You may have someone in your family or friends who seems to be so completely closed to the good news of the gospel, but nothing is impossible for God.

waiting

for a break in the rain
for the ice cream to melt
for a hug from a friend
for a smile to shatter
for the waves to stop moving
for the sand on your nose
for you to come home

Reading Through the Church Dogmatics

click the above link - go on, you know you want to

laughable exam experience

when we turned the paper over in friday's exam, there was a general burst of laughter and even a few groans.
it hasn't been since first year doctrine that i have looked at an exam and had such a complete lack of knowledge. and there wasn't any choice in the questions, you had to answer what was in front of you!
i am pretty sure that they are going to be kind markers though.

so who the heck is archbishop laud anyway, and what were his litergical aims?

you say it best when you say nothing at all

it has been a week of radio silence from me.
to sum up - stuff happens. (which is my one rule for doing hebrew, but i'm seeing a very versatile application to that philosophy)

stuff happens:
(no particular order, and i'm sure there was more stuff in there - like class)
dinner with trinity
heeb with mamma swan
laughable exam experience
cleaned my room - yes, would you believe it??? you totally wouldn't recognise my room. i actually have carpet!

now to forecast the coming week:
severe crisis
new testament essay
predictions of catastrophic elimination

God - a school teacher on playground duty?

Last week I had a conversation with a friend of mine.
She said:
"God is like a school teacher on playground duty. He doesn't let things get completely out of control, but He watches the bad stuff that we do to one another, but isn't really in control of it all."
I can understand that this statement comes from her looking at bad stuff that happens and what role God plays in all of that.

Is God like a school teacher on playground duty? Is God really in control? What does it mean if we are to say that God isn't in control?

Open Theism is a danger for the church. It undermines our very confidence in God. My friend feels the tension that lay between God's goodness which she knows, but also that evil happens. Open Theism is attractive to people who struggle with working out why evil happens.

A reformed approach says that God knows in advance everything that will happen, every exact and precise detail. God knows the suffering and evil that will occur. This does not in any way mean that God is responsible for sin. God uses suffering for his good purposes (Rom 5:1-5).

Open Theists argue that if God cannot know about the evil and suffering that will occur. They want to absolve God from any moral responsibility of creating or being involved in sin and suffering. They say that their God is one who wishes that suffering and pain does not occur, and when we foolish humans do things that cause suffering, then God is there to provide us with the strength and endurance to get through it.

This is why it is persuasive. And dangerous.

So why do bad things happen to good people? Can God really be in control? If God knows exactly what bad stuff is going to happen to us, then surely he must bare the responsibility for setting it in place, and as such cannot be a loving God? Surely it is not for our good?

The following is a list of what open theists say about pain and suffering:

• God does not know in advance the future free actions of his moral creatures
• God cannot control the future free actions of his moral creatures
• Tragic events occur over which God has no control
• When tragedies occur, God should not be blamed, becuase he was not able to prevent them from occuring, and he certainly did not will or cause them to occur
• Suffering is gratuitous and pointless, ie suffering has no positive or redeeming quality to it all, so that God should never be seen as intending suffering in order to bring some good from it

Bruce Ware, Their God is too small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God (Crossway: Illinois, 2003) 67-8

You see, I can understand and feel weight of this arguement. But as I said to my friend, once you start saying that God is not in control, there are some pretty serious implications.
If God is not in control, then who is? satan? no one or nothing?
Is God omniscient or omnipotent?

I believe this arguement for God stems from a misunderstanding of God's goodness.
BY NO MEANS is suffering good in and of itself. The very fabric of this creation is torn and groaning for a release from its suffering (Rom 8:18-24). Suffering is not something that is part of the way that God created things, that is why there is the hope of future re-creation, the hope of glory.
Open theists will say that suffering is not designed by God and has no good. But I disagree. I believe that God uses suffering for good. I believe that he ordains suffering to serve a purpose. A good purpose.

And since when has God promised that life as a Christian would not have suffering?

So is God like a school teacher on playground duty? Is your God in control of the good, the bad, the small and the large? If he isn't, who is in control of those things?

--
a few initial thoughts, I'm sure there will be more to come later, but i didn't want too long a post.

Now what do you think?

dreaming

floating
watching
waiting
crying
smiling
running
sharing
hating
loving
wishing
dreaming

awwwww